16th August 2012

Solomon Airlines today gave notice that with effect 3^rd September, the airline will RECOMMENCE scheduled services to AUKI (AKS) and JAJAO (JJA).

The recommencement of services to Auki has come about after successful negotiations between the government and the land owning parties of Gwaunaru’u airport. Solomon Airlines was advised last week by the Civil Aviation Department through a NOTAM, declaring that Auki airport is open for normal airline operations.

Auki is the business centre of Malaita Province and the closure of the airstrip has caused much inconvenience to business and the travelling public. Solomon Airlines is pleased to be recommencing operations to Auki again, starting with three (3) scheduled flights per week, services being operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays on an Islander aircraft. Solomon airlines advise that daily loadings will be monitored to ascertain traffic demand and if the need arises we certainly have the ability to increase capacity by upgrading to a larger aircraft size. Going forward, we will continue to monitor Traffic demand and supply capacity to suit demand accordingly.

The public are also reminded that there is no airline office in Auki and the new agents are Auki Lodge with the airline’s affairs being managed by ex airline employee Peter Aetee. For reservations and tickets, the public are asked to contact the airlines direct Toll Free line 177 or our agents in Auki, the Auki Lodge.

Solomon Airlines is also pleased to announce the resumption of services to Jajao (JJA) in Isabel Province. The airline stopped services to Jajao some years ago due to very low traffic demand. However, with much increased economic activities now happening on the ground, the airline has had to respond to the increase in demand for air services by recommencing services to Jajao. As with Auki, the airline will monitor daily demands and respond with the most cost efficient service, either by increasing capacity or by combining flights with either Fera or Suavanao. Scheduled services will start with twice weekly dedicated flights on the Islander aircraft also from 3^rd September.

Solomon Airlines looks forward to serving the people of these two airports/Provinces into the future.       

Solomon Airlines confirmed today that it will suspend services to Port Moresby in PNG with effect from its last flight on 3^rd July next month.

The airline made it clear that it was only a suspension and will advise in due course regarding it’s re-entry into the PNG market at a later date.

The spokesperson clarified that a number of initiatives had to be taken to ensure its future plans remain intact.

Firstly, the airline said, “our long term plans were to always link PNG to Fiji via Honiara and Vila but due to the priorities we set ourselves with the Australian/Brisbane prime day services, it was always going to be difficult to make a through service work unless it was closer to weekends. This could not be done with our prime services on Friday afternoon and Sunday/Monday”

In the meantime, the airline said, the PNG route has not been as effective as was initially desired and prudent management means when times are tough, we had to make the ‘suspension’ decision and review our plans.

The airline continued that revised ‘plans were ready to link PNG to Fiji to be effective in August this year but when discussing plans with the Maintenance provider of our Airbus H4-BUS, John Holland Engineering of Australia, they indicated they would not be able to support the aircraft should we go ahead with the plans of additional utilisation of H4-BUS from August as they were fully stretched with limited resources.’

This really meant ‘we had to review our total plans and together with the continued HIGH COST of the Airlines PNG Dash8 lease, the airline took the decision which included the suspension of our PNG route and also may include the returning of Airlines PNG’s Dash8 aircraft in due course.’

Solomon Airlines indicated they were ‘working closely with Air Niugini to gauge availability to purchase one of their Dash8 aircraft and also had discussions when Air Niugini would be ready to bring online their newly acquired Boeing B737-700/800 aircraft on the route to Honiara and Nadi.’

This would be timely for each to have their larger aircraft serving the route together as partners. This was expected later in the year.’

Solomon Airlines are hoping to re-enter the PNG market later in the year